Musical instrument



(No Model.)

T. H. DEOKE-RT.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Patented May 31,1898.

INVENTOR,

I Attorney lUNiTnn TATES PATENT @rrrcn.

THOMAS H. DECKERT, OF FORSYTH, MONTANA.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,041, dated May 31, 1898.

Application filed November 27, 1896. Serial No. 613,590. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, THOMAS H. DECKERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Forsyth, in the county of Custer and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Instruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in stringed musical instruments; and it consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of this instrument complete. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section. Fig. 4c is a perspective detail view of the tailpiece. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail View of the mute, and Fig. 6 represents a perspective View of the cap.

Referring now to said drawings, 1 indicates the shell of the instrument, which in contour is similar to that of an ordinary banjorine, but which, like a banjo, is provided with a skin head and a ti ghtening-rin g having tightening-clamps. The said shell is provided with an opening 2 large enough to permit the hand to be inserted therein for the purpose hereinafter to be described. The said body 1 is provided with the neck 3, the same being formed with a shoulder, from which extends a bar 5, passing through the rear end of the shell, through the shell longitudinally, and through the front end of the shell. The said shell is provided with the calfskin head 6 and strings 7 and a bridge 8. An adjustable mute is fastened to the bar 5 within the shell and is arranged to engage the inner face of the head 6 for the purpose of reducing the volume of sound given out by the instrument. The said mute is preferably made of a single piece of metal bent at two points, as shown at 10, to provide a central connecting portion and two arms. These arms turn inwardly from the central connecting portion and then extend practically parallel, whereby they can .is secured thereto in the manner shown.

he placed on opposite sides of the bar 5. The said arms 11 are flexible and are connected by means of a spring 12, fastened at its ends to two loops and secured to said arms. The said spring 12 serves to draw the arms together, so that when these arms are placed on opposite sides of the bar 5 the spring serves to clamp the mute upon this bar, but in an adjustable manner, so that it can be moved into or out of contact with the head 6 or longitudinally with relation to the instrument, it being noted that the hand can be inserted through the opening 2 to manipulate this mute. The tailpiece 13 (shown in detail in Fig. 4) is fastened to the end of the shell and is provided at its upper end with hooks 15 to engage the stretching-ring of the instrument. This tailpiece is also provided at its upper edge with the inwardly-projecting curved flange having marginal notches and the slots 14, by means of which the strings are secured thereto. The lower end portion of the said tailpiece fits against the end of the shell and A pivoted cap 18 is secured to said tailpiece conveniently by a pivot passing through eyeloops upon said cap and'upon said tailpiece, said eye-loops being preferably formed integral with these parts. The said tailpiece 13 is secured in any adjustable manner to the shell of the instrument by means of an eyebolt connected with the opening in the lower end thereof and passing through an eye secured to the end of the bar 5. Below this eye in the bar 5 is a tightening-nut. In this Way it is seen that the tightening-ring and skin head can be tightened at this point when the tailpiece and the eyebolt and nut act as a tightening-clamp.

It will be seen from this construction that the cap may be thrown outwardlyto allow the strings to be arranged or inserted, while when it is closed it covers the end of the tailplate and forms an extended face over the head of the instrument to allow full wrist motion and upon which the hand or wrist may rest.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, i s- 1. In a musical instrument of the character described, the combination with the instrument proper, of a rod or barextending longitudinally of the body part on the under side of the head, amute having a pair of arms surrounding said bar and a spring for holding said arms in frictional contact with said bar, whereby said mute may be adjusted back and forth or up and down, substantially as described.

2. In a musical instrument of the character described, the combination with a body part having the usual head and an opening in its under side, a neck secured to said bodypart, a rod or bar extending longitudinally of the body part on the under side of the head, of a mute having a pair of arms surrounding said bar and a spring for holding; the said arms in frictional contact therewith.

3. In a musical instrument of the character described, the combination with a body part having the usual head and an opening; in its under side, a neck secured to said body part, a rod or bar extending longitudinally of the body part on the under side of the head, of a mute made up of a single strip of metal having a flat upper surface and two arms projecting rearwardly therefrom and a spring for holding said arms in frictional contact with said bar.

4. Ina musical instrument of; the character deseribed,the combination with the body part made up of a single sheet 01 metal, bent at one point, one part thereof fitting against the rear end of said body part and formed with loops for the purpose described, and the other partbent forwardly and provid ed with notches therein through which the strings of the instrument pass and a pivoted cap connected to said loops, substantially as and for the pus pose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing" witnesses.

THOMAS ll. l'll lt lil llt'l.

Witnesses:

E. S. lineman, PEIER Ii )ROTGS s. 

